Early 20th century glass paintings of HN on display

As many as 60 coloured photos printed on glass by French photographer Leon Busy, featuring Ha Noi from 1914-17, will be displayed tonight at L'Espace, 24 Trang Tien Street.

Titled "Ha Noi Colours 1914-17", the exhibition is divided into two themes, "Daily Life – Handicrafts and Society" and "Environment and Beliefs."

The exhibition was created by historian Emmanuel Poisson from Paris Diderot University and ethnologist Dinh Trong Hieu from France's National Science Research Centre.

During the exhibition, ten black and white documentaries about Ha Noi during the same period will be screened. The exhibition will run until January 4, 2014.

UK-style singing competition to hit TV screens

The Vietnamese version of the world-famous British game show Sing If You Can will go on air at the end of this month.

BHD Company and Vietnam Television, producers of the reality contest, said it will offer TV audiences "a new musical experience".

The company said in a press release that Do Ai Hat Duoc will show "celebrities ‘forced' to sing wholeheartedly and overcome harsh challenges with courage and strength".

Comedian Thai Hoa and singer Thu Minh will be two of three judges at the show.

Thai Hoa has won a devoted fan following with his performances in comedies like De Mai Tinh (Deal with It Tomorrow), and Long Ruoi (Long the Fly).

Thu Minh is famous as a singer who dares to surprise the audience when she sings. She has been a judge with several music competitions on TV including The Voice and Vietnam Idol 2013.

The first episode of Do Ai Hat Duoc will be aired on the channel VTV3 on December 28.

Piano concert celebrates Vietnam-Aussie links

Vietnamese-Australian pianist and music producer Nguyen Van Anh will perform at HCM City's Opera House on December 13 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia.

Her performance will be accompanied by the orchestra of the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera.

The 24-year-old pianist will perform the Concerto for Piano by E. Grieg, Hungarian Dance No.1 by J. Brahms, and the Symphony No.1 by L.V. Beethoven.

Born in Sydney, Van Anh became familiar with the piano when she was a toddler. By the age of 4, she was accepted into the Young Artists Programme for gifted and

talented musicians at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. At age 12 she received the Licentiate Diploma in Music (Australia), making history as one of the youngest accomplished musicians of her generation.

Van Anh has performed throughout Australia, as well as in Germany, Austria, and the US.

In November 2005, she made her solo debut in Vietnam with the HCM City Symphony Orchestra. In the following years, from 2006-08, she again performed in HCM City, sponsored by the Australian Embassy.

Argentine Cultural Week to open in Hanoi, HCMC

An Argentina Cultural Week will be held in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from December 14-18 to mark 40 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Co-organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Argentine Ministry of Culture, the event will encompass a photo exhibition, a film fest, art performances, a book launch and a seminar depicting the life and career of Eva Peron, the late Argentine president's wife (1919-1952).

Over the past 40 years, relations between Vietnam and Argentina have achieved measureable success in various fields,such as, economics, politics, investment, trade, and culture.

In particular, culture plays a significant role in contributing to tightening solidarity between the two governments and the people.

In 2012, President Ho Chi Minh’s Statue and Vietnam Park were unveiled in capital Buenos Aires, Argentina, expressing its government’s appreciation of the great Vietnamese leader.

In September this year, Argentina held a Vietnam Week, a similar event aimed at promoting bilateral relations.

French Week kicks off in Da Lat city

French Week kicked off in Da Lat city, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on December 9, to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and France .

The event also takes place on the occasion of the 120 th anniversary of Da Lat city, which was built by the French in the late 19th century and is imprinted with French architecture and culture.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, French Ambassador Jean-Noel Poirier stressed that the event offers a chance for France to show its presence in the city. He added that

France wants to further participate in the development of Lam Dong in general and Da Lat in particular.

During the week-long event, a series of activities are scheduled to be held, including a map exhibition featuring the formation and development history of Da Lat, screenings of four famous French films and a photo exhibition highlighting Da Lat, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City at night by French photographer Sebastien Laval.

The book “Plague and Cholera” by Patrick Deville (and printed in Vietnamese and French) will also be introduced to readers on the occasion. The book tells the stories of Swiss-French doctor Alexandre Yersin, who was credited in Vietnam for finding Liang Biang plateau, a famous site in Da Lat city, in 1893, and founding the Medical School of Hanoi in 1902.

Vietnamese and French artists will conclude the event on December 15 with a joint concert.-

Artists create colourful mosaics

Ha Noi-based artist Le Thiet Cuong has teamed up with female colleague Hoang Thi Phuong Lien from HCM City to open an exhibition in the capital, where for the first time, they are displaying ceramic and paper mosaics.

Since his first exhibition in 1991, Cuong has stuck to simple designs with large colourful spaces.

For this exhibition, his 15 works feature folk scenes and simple topics like flying kites, a church, a person reading a book and someone deep in thought. He likes to use vivid colours that he contrasts with one another.

"Cuong remains faithful to his style regardless of whether he is working on sculptures, ceramics or interior design," painter Trinh Tu told Viet Nam News.

"He has found elegant beauty in small pieces of glazed ceramic which sparkle under the lights to make this special collection."

Poet Doan Ngoc Thu said that Cuong's mosaics gather the "soul of the earth in ceramic and the literal meaning of folk stories with vivid colours and a breath of contemporary art within the body movements of experimental dance.

Artist Lien, who now works as a painter for The Education Publishers in HCM City, has specialised in paper mosaics for the past 20 years. For this exhibition, she haschosen to look at flowers, fruit, landscapes and mountainous markets.

"Paper mosaics require diligence," Lien said. "I choose the coloured paper then tear it into very small pieces and stick them onto a blank canvas without sketching an outline. That's why the pieces are quite emotional and often unique."

Painter Nguyen Trung noted that with her excellent skills and eye for aesthetics, coloured paper took on a new life and added a different dimension to Lien's work.

"Each painting is part of a giant jigsaw that makes up the exhibition, which is titled Ghep (Joining)," Cuong said.

The exhibition will run until December 24 at Gallery 39A Ly Quoc Su Street before moving to the Ly Club, 143 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 3, HCM City in mid-February.

French Year concludes with light show

A spectacular light and musical show will be held at the Reunification Palace in HCM City on Friday and Saturday to wrap up the French Year in Viet Nam.

The Spectacularies and Allumeurs d'Images event, set up by French engineers and visual artists, will see the front of the palace turn into a giant screen featuring visual and light effects accompanied by live music by French composer Orel and local singer Le Cat Trong Ly.

The duo will perform electronic music shows 15 times over the two days with each lasting 15 minutes.

During the shows, videos will feature six different stories – about Viet Nam's legends of Lac Long Quan and Au Co and images of the lotus, bamboo, rice fields, and modern life.

The shows will be at 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 9.30pm, 10pm and 10.30pm on both days with an extra performance at 7pm on the second day.

"The programme is to honour the architectural heritage of the Reunification Palace and to bring a magnificent visual show to city audiences," Philippe Bouler, the show's art director, said.

Book on trafficking survivors in own words launched

The Centre for Women and Development (CDW) and the Spanish Embassys Agency for International Development Cooperation, has published the book "Peace House

Shelter: Survivors of Trafficking in their Own Words".

The book brings together true stories of trafficking survivors who have found safety in the Peace House Shelter over the past 6 years. The shelter´s residents were invited to

share their stories as part of their recovery process, allowing them to speak for themselves, rather than through outsiders or "experts", to describe their experiences in their own ways.

Director of CWD Cao Thi Hong Van noted that the stories have been carefully edited to change names, dates and places, protecting the survivors identities and ensuring their security.

"The authors hope the book will be a powerful tool to raise awareness and protect others from similar suffering," said Van.

Spanish Ambassador to Viet Nam Alfonso Tena Garcia took note of the project, in particular, the books testimonial value, detailing the obstacles survivors face in their quest to start new lives.

"It also proves how, with enough determination and support, victims can overcome so many hurdles on their path to recover the dignity and hope that have been forcefully taken away from them," said the ambassador.

Peace House Shelter opened its doors in 2007, providing assistance to more than 260 survivors of human trafficking, with more than 3000 cases being handled and referred by its counseling staff.

The comprehensive needs-based support package includes safe accommodations, medical and psychological care, legal aid, education, entertainment activities, life skills training, vocational training, job placement, and reintegration support. This approach ensures that appropriate assistance is provided and that the re-victimisation of women is prevented by empowering them with life and vocational skills to be their own agents of change.

Photo exhibition promotes Vietnam’s sea and islands

Forty photos featuring Vietnam’s sea and islands are currently on display at an exhibition that opened on December 9 at Trung Vuong secondary school in Phan Thiet city.

The photos reflect the lives of soldiers and people in border communities and sea and island regions, while depicting the potential of the Vietnam’s marine economy.

Other exhibits include documents and 4 ancient maps asserting Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos.

Visitors can also take in 30 artistic photos extolling the natural beauty of Phu Quy island in Binh Thuan province and the positive changes the locality has achieved of late.

The exhibition, co-organised by the Binh Thuan provincial Cultural Centre and the provincial Department of Education and Training, will travel to schools located in the city and coastal districts across Binh Thuan province. Its purpose is to demonstrate the strategic role of Vietnam’s sea and islands in national construction and defence to the

city’s residents, consolidating their patriotism and raising their awareness of the country’s sovereignty over its sea.

Spectacular visual show at Reunification Palace

A lighting and music show by French engineers and visual artists of the Spectacularies and Allumeurs d’Images to wrap up French Year in Vietnam will take place from December 13 to 14 at the Reunification Palace in District 1.

Audiences to the free-entrance event can admire the front of the palace in the heart of town turning into a giant screen featuring some spectacular visual and light effects accompanied with live music by French composer izOrel and local singer Le Cat Trong Ly. The duo will perform an electronic music show in the center balcony of the palace backed up with the colorful images on the screen.

The duo will perform 15 times over the two days with each performance lasting 15 minutes.

During the 15 minute shows, the videos will feature six different stories about Vietnam’s legends of Lac Long Quan and Au Co and images of the lotus, bamboo, rice fields and modern life. There are 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. performances on both days. The second day has an extra performance at 7 p.m.  

“The program is to honor the architectural heritage of the Reunification Palace and to bring a magnificent visual show to wider city audiences,” said Philippe Bouler, the show’s art director. “Artists of the Spectacularies and Allumeurs d’Images who are masters of visual effects will bring the palace to life with Vietnam’s epic symbols,” he added.

Other special events to finish up French Year that take place this weekend are Sebastien Laval’s photo exhibition at the HCMC Museum, and the France-Vietnam Festival “Le bon marche” on December 14-15 at September 23 Park featuring French food and beverages, a baking contest and music performances.

VNPT to be Gold Sponsor of Hue Festival 2014

The organizing committee of Hue Festival 2014 and Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT) signed a contract on December 9 whereby VNPT will serve as a Gold Sponsor of the event.

Accordingly, the sponsorship agreement will support the nation’s biggest cultural event with VND2 billion.

VNPT will also build a media center equipped with 20 computers, printers and photocopiers at the office of the Journalists Association at 22 Le Loi Street in Hue City in Thua Thien-Hue Province. The national corporation will also support the airing of cultural activities during the festival.

In addition, the organizing committee of the event and Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) signed a contract on November 13 whereby BIDV will serve as a Diamond Sponsor of the event.

Previously, the Management Board of Hue Festival 2014 and the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade (Vietcombank), had signed a sponsorship agreement for support of VND3 billion for the nation’s biggest cultural event.

So far 35 countries and territories from around the world have registered to participate in the biennial Hue Festival in Hue City in Thua Thien-Hue Province scheduled to take place from April 12-20 next year.

Hanoi exhibits century old photos by French photographer

A color photograph exhibition themed ‘Hanoi and Color’ opened in Hanoi on December 9, displaying 60 stunning images of Hanoi taken a century ago.

The exhibition was organized by the People’s Committee of Hanoi and the Ile De Region of France.

The photographs on display were taken by French photographer Léon Busy a century ago.

The exhibition also includes more than 1,500 original color photos, taken from 1914-1917, showing the physical and spiritual life of Vietnamese people at that time.

This is the first color photograph exhibition with many documents, historical evidence on Hanoi Capital taken a century ago.